Winding mechanism for moving-picture machines.



NBS.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO.11, 1909.

d w 0 M 2% D1 fl F wzcs e gala/d UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

WINDING MECHANISM FOR MOVING-PICTURE MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

I I Application filed December 11, 1909. Serial No. 582,528.

To all whom it may concern. Be it known that I, ALFRED Wioems, a citizen of the United States, and resident of 'East Lexington, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Winding Mechanism for Moving-Picture Machines, of which the following description, in connection with L the accompanying drawings, is a, specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

In using the film of moving-picture machines, two results are desirable, among others, first to avoid frictional contact with the body portion or picture surface of the film, and second to facilitate the rapid and convenient travel and transfer of the film from the delivery end of the machine to the receiving end, and vice versa. My present invention aims to secure these results to the best advantage.

I provide-means whereby the film is maintained in edge engagement wherever it slides or tends to slide or move frictionally over an adjacent surface, as distinguished from being permitted to engage said surface between said edges or at the picture portion of area of the film. v

I also provide a connection between the delivery end of the machine and the filmreceiving end of the machine for positively driving the former from the latter at a predetermined decreased ratio of movement, whereby the film is permitted to feed forward through the machine without any possibility of being subjected to longitudinal strain or other tension tending to warp-or distort the film. I

My invention also includes a reel which cooperates withthe aforesaid mechanism in facilitating the edge engagement of the film in unwinding and the quick transfer of the film from the receiving end to the delivery end of the machine without rewinding.

Further advantages willbe more fully apparent in the course of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which I have shown a preferredembodiment of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents in side elevation and partly in section the complete machine; Fig. 2 is a View thereof in front elevation, the upper portion beingin section and partly broken away; Fig.3 is a.

view in top plan, partially broken away,

I I showing a portion of the delivery mechanism .Fig. 4is a view in side elevation of the receiving reel, looking ,at the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1; Figl'5is a central longitudinal section of said reel taken on line 5-5, Fig. 6; and Figs. 6 and 7 are central transverse sectional v1ews of the two separableparts of the reel taken on the line 6-6, Fig.5.

As my invention is applicable to any usual kind of lantern and moving-picture mechanism, I have merely indicated the same herein mounted on a platform 4. At the upper end of said platform is a support 5 preferably hinged at 6 to the main portion of the machine and provided. with a film-holder 7 mounted on a central axis 8 provided with a beveled gear 9' driven by-a beveled pinion ion 12 in mesh w1th a gear 13 rotated by a fiexibleshaft 14 which passes downwardly through an' eye 15 on abracket 16 to the lower part of the machine in osition to receive a film-receiving reel- 1 The latter reel and said shaft are driven by a smoothgrooved pulley 18 and slip belt 19 in usual mannerin' connection wit the moving-picture mechanism 2, which is operated b a handle 20. The film-holder 7 is shaped ike a pan or circular tra for receiving a headportion 21 of the rec which constitutes one of the leading features of my invention. Accordingly I will describe'this reel in detail at th1s point for the better understanding of the entire invention. The reel comprises two opposite sides or heads 21, 22, the former provided with a'central conical .hub 23 and a plurality of slots or elongated openings 24, and the head or'side 22 is provlded with a hub 25 having a central conical two parts are put together to constitute a complete reel. In the hub 25 are mounted a series of rods 27 corresponding in number to the slots'24 and each provided with an outturned clamping end 28 adaptedto :enter ,said slots when turned in line therewith, whereupon they are given aquarter turn into the position indicated in Fig. 4, 'the'reby its opposite end with a handle 29 whereby it Patented Jan. 3, 1911.

in a general conventional manner at 1,2, 3

may be conveniently turnedfsaidlfandlepref erably standing in the same direction as the hooked end 28 so as tointiicatejwhen the 10 on a shaft 11 provided with a spur pinrecess 26 into which the hub 23 fits when the locking the two sides or heads ofthe reel together. Each locking rod 27 is provided at operation.

parts are properly locked together. Secured at proper distances apart around the periphery of the hub 25 are spring members corresponding in number to the rods 27 ,and cooperating with one of these springs 30 is a c amping spring 31. v

Alined openings 32, 3 3, 34 are provided for receiving a holding spindle 35 when in position to receive the film 36. Each looking. rod 27 is also provided with a cam portion37. When-the reel parts are clamped together as a whole, the locking rods 27 are turned-to locking position, as shown best, in Figs. 4, 5, and 6; The end of the film 36 is then tucked in between the spring 31 and the adjacent spring 30, which, under the action of theout-turned cam portion 37, hold it suliiciently against slipping'for the winding Thereupon the reel 17 is rotated in;usual manner by the slip belt 19 and pulley 18, being wound tightly upon the hub 25 the same as usual with reels in general. Having filled the reel-with the entire ribbon of film 36, the sides of the reel are unclamped from each other by turning the handles 29 of the rods 27 from their clamped position as shown in the drawings, into. recesses 38 provided therefor in the wall of the hub 25. This permlts the springs 30 and the spring 31 to move inwardly against the hub 25 out .of holding engagement with the inner por tion of the film, which is thereby released so that the side 22 of the reel and its hub 25 and all the parts carried thereby may be lifted from the film without any danger of injuring the latter, leaving said film supported in proper winding position on the side or head 21 of the reel. Said side or head; 21 of the reel, with its load of coiled film, is thereupon transferred to the pan or holder 7- as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The inner end of the film is then threaded through a polished metal ring 39, oval in shape, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2, at.

the end of an overhanging rod 40 which is plvotally supported in a, post 41. To-lock said ring and arm in normal central position,

the rod isprovided with a depending lug 42 0st. This holds the arm and ring in operative position when desired, and yet" permits it to be raised from .said notch and swun to one side when it is desired to put a new film in place in the holder 7. The leading end of the film is then pulled through the ring 39 and out between'usual guide rollers 44 provided in 'a usual cover or box 45 provided to protect the film within the box from fire in case the exposed outer portion thereof should catch fire.

' The box is provided with a hinged portion 46 at one side to permit the reel head 21 and its load of film to be ut in place within the box. A guide roller 4 is also preferably provided for directing the film to the picture hence as snug as machine, and an adjustable brace 48 serves to regulate the angle .of the support 5 so that it may be maintained horizontal. Because of the cone shape of the hub 23,- only the lower edge of the film tends to engage the same, and the elliptical or oval ring 39 also prevents the body of the film from touching it. The ring restricts the film to an edge engagement therewith, and these are the only parts of my apparatus over which the film must slide, so that the picture portion of the film is kept from being scratched or injured. As before mentioned, an im ortant feature of my invention resides in drlving the holder 7 at a slightly decreased speed over that of the receiving reel. The proportion of the gears which I have found preferable is to provide the gear 9 with forty seven cogs, the gear 10 with fourteen cogs, the gear 12 with twelve cogs. and the gear 13 with forty cogs.

' I have found this decreased speed of delivery over the winding speed just sufiicient to prevent any possibility of strain being brought upon the ribbon of film by the positive pull of the biograph mechanism 2 and the gradually increasing size of the turns of film being received and delivered, so that as a result the film has much longer life than if said delivery mechanism were not run at said increased speed. The coil of film in the film-holder? necessarily loosens toward the center more or less, and this is desirable and is promoted by. my mechanism, as thereby the successive turns of the film have less tendency to rub on each other as the film is delivered from the center'of the coil, whereas the coil of film on the receiving reel is held taut and ossible all the time it is bein wound, an the differential in the speed of the winding device and the speed of the. delivery device just compensates for this difference in the condition of the two coils and promotes the desired loose'ness of the upper coil.

Havlng described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The herein described film-handling mechanism for a moving-picture machine, comprising-a rotary device for delivering the film, a rotary device for receivlng the film so delivered, and driving connections between said two devices, including means for positively driving the rotary deliverin device at a slightly slower speed than the wmding device.

2. The herein described film-handling mechanism for a moving-picture machine, comprising a rotary device for delivering the film, a rotary device for receiving the film so delivered, a flexible rotary driving shaft, and positive gear connections between said two devices, geared to drive the delivery device slightly slower than the receiving dev1ce. a

3. In a machine of the kind described, film delivery mechanism, including a relatively stationary delivery ring through which the film is delivered, whereby the film is main-v tained in edge contact only and is saved from being scratched or injured between its edges.

4t. In a machine of the kind described, filmdclivery mechanism, including a film-supporting portion having a conical shaped hub for aiding in maintaining the body of the film against frictional injury.

5. In a machine of the kind described, film delivery mechanism, including a pan sha ed I holder, and a conical shaped hub for aidlng in maintaining the body of the film against frictional injury.

6. In a machine of the kind described, film delivery mechanism, including a pan shaped holder, a conical shaped hub for aiding in maintaining the body of the film against frictional injury, and means for rotating said holder at a slight decrement slower than the film is being withdrawn.

7 In a machine of the kind described, a fi-lmreceiving reel comprising separable sides, including between them an expansible hub, and means for contracting said hub when the hub is to be removed from the. film.

8'. In a machine. of the kind described, a' film-receiving reel comprising separable.

. sides, including between them an expansible hub, and means for contracting said hub when the hub isto be removed from the film, including a peripheral spring support for the inner coil of the film.

'9. In a machine of the kind described, a

. film-receiving. reel comprising separable sides, including between them an expansible hub, and means 'for contracting saidhub when the hub is to be removed from the film, including a peripheral spring support for the inner coil of the film, and cam mechanism for expanding and contracting said spring support.

10. In a machine of the kind described, a

filmreceiving reel com rising separable sides, including between t em an expansible .hub, and means, for contracting said hub when the hub is to be removed from the film, including a peripheral spring support for the inner coil of the film, and a locking rod mounted transversely in said hub, and proin the roll of film for'facil'tating the separation therefrom of the fil thereon. I

In testimony whereof, I have signed my when wound name to this specification, in the presence oftwo subscribing-witnesses.

1 .ALFRED wIeeINsj. Witnesses: Gno. H. MAXWELL, R. DOHERTY. 

